Baron Ghazar

Political prisoner, Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, Primate of the Shirak Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church, has sent a message from the Yerevan-Kentron penitentiary. “Lord, my hope and my life, whom shall I fear? Lord, the refuge of my life, of whom shall I be afraid? Gratitude and glory to the Almighty for His support and comfort during the past 75 days of my life, without which it would have been impossible to endure the unprecedented and indescribable torrent of injustice we have been forced to confront. Thanks also to you, my beloved ones—all of you who share in my suffering. Yet, these hardships I endure are absolutely nothing compared to the loss of our homeland and the agony of our brothers in captivity. I even consider it inappropriate to speak of my own trials when our compatriots from Artsakh are deprived of their homeland and our brothers tortured in captivity. This absolutely unlawful and fabricated persecution will one day come to an end; all the guilty will answer before the very law that they now violate and trample while passing judgment on me. And I, with the authority given to me by God—an authority incomparable to their temporary earthly power—shall condemn them and their accomplices not temporarily, but eternally. Christ said: ‘Forgive, for they know not what they do.’ I, the Lord’s unworthy servant, dare to say: ‘Do not forgive, for they know very well what they are doing.’ Our love and greetings go to the children of our beloved people. And in the end, I say: ‘If the Lord is with us, who can be against us?’ Stay strong—God is with us.” Currently, Armenia holds around 30 political prisoners, including senior clergymen, a national benefactor, parents of fallen soldiers, and individuals suffering from serious health conditions.

The wife of Armenian hostage Vicken Euljekjian, unlawfully held in Azerbaijan, has warned that her husband has been on hunger strike for more than 20 days in a Baku prison. Linda Euljekjian said she was shocked to receive an unexpected phone call from her husband yesterday. “He told me he has been on hunger strike for 20 days. Through this protest, he is trying to appeal to the world on behalf of himself and his fellow prisoners. I am losing my husband. His life is in danger. He said he needs a doctor, that he suffers unbearable pain, but the Azerbaijanis are not providing medical assistance. I appeal to the whole world: my only goal is to keep my husband alive.” She noted that the last time she saw her husband was months ago via video call, during which he already appeared sick and thin. “Imagine his condition now, after more than 20 days on hunger strike. After the peace agreement, prisoners should have been released. If the war is over, what are they waiting for? I do not know if my appeals are being ignored, but my husband needs care. I am turning to Nikol Pashinyan as a wife who needs his support. We are a broken family. I ask all leaders: please help me. Soon I will lose my mother, and I do not want to lose my husband too. I need my husband,” Linda said. Vicken Euljekjian had repatriated from Lebanon to Armenia in November 2019 to begin a new life. On November 10, 2020, he was seized near Shushi in Artsakh together with another Lebanese citizen, Maral Najarian. Their detention took place only hours after the ceasefire came into effect, though they were unaware it was already in force. The two had traveled to Artsakh to collect Najarian’s belongings from a hotel in Shushi. Both were taken by Azerbaijani forces and transported to Baku, where Euljekjian was later sentenced by a Baku court on June 14, 2021, to 20 years in prison. Maral Najarian was released in March 2021 after four months of unlawful detention, following international pressure from human rights organizations and the Lebanese government. Vicken, however, remains imprisoned in Azerbaijan, deprived of medical care and held under inhumane conditions despite repeated appeals for his release.

Armen Ashotyan, Vice President of the Republican Party of Armenia and Minister of Education and Science from 2009 to 2016, remains one of the most outspoken critics of Nikol Pashinyan. Although under court restrictions, he continues to engage actively in political debates, focusing on democracy, justice, and the role of the opposition. In this interview, Ashotyan discusses how modern authoritarian regimes, including Armenia, use non-violent but highly effective tools to silence dissent. He argues that Pashinyan openly dismantles constitutional checks and balances and misuses administrative power not only against political rivals but also against independent voices from the Church, the Diaspora, and wider society. He speaks candidly about political prisoners, the fractured opposition, and growing concerns over justice. Watch the full interview for his unfiltered perspective.

Sparapet Vazgen Sargsyan spoke with profound passion about the sacred value of Armenia’s independence, honoring the heavy sacrifices endured and exalting the unyielding spirit of the Armenian people.

This map challenges the modern narrative by highlighting a deeper truth: much of what is now called Azerbaijan includes historical Eastern Armenian provinces that are currently under occupation. Regions like Artsakh, Nakhijevan, Utik, and Paytakaran have deep Armenian roots — rich with centuries of culture, history, and identity. Acknowledging this isn’t about politics; it’s about recognizing what’s right and just.